Purse-lock



W. M. THOMPSON.

PURSE LOCK. APPLICATION F ILED JUNE 20. I918.

1,363,291 Patented Dec: 28, 1920.

' a iii UNl'l'lilD STATES PAINT FFICE.

WILLIS M. THOMPSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR 0F TWO-FIFTHS I'O WILLIAM OON'NORS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PURSE-LO CK;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Application filed June 20, 1918. serial No. 240,936.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIs M. THOMPSON, a citizen of the'United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Purse-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to purse locks and more particularly to a lock of this character through the medium of which a purse may be locked or anchored to the pocket, a garment, the inside of a larger purse or hand bag, or other device to which it may be desired to fasten the purse so as to guard against the same being lost or stolen.

The object of my invention-is the production of a lock of the character mentioned which will be of durable and economical construction, and through the medium of which a pursemay be readily and easily locked or anchored so as to prevent loss or theft thereof.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

, The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of an anchoring element to which is applied a purse secured thereto by means of a lock embodying the invention, 7

Fig. 2 a section taken on substantially line 2-2 of Fig. 1, V

.Fig. 3 an enlarged, plan view of the lock detached, and shown partly in section,

Fig. 4C a section taken on substantially line i -4 of Fig. 3,

i Fig. 5 a view similar to Fig. 4: of a slightly modified form of construction, and

Fig. 6 a section taken on substantially line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises a lock consisting of a shallow circular housing 7 formed of two parts having over-lapping peripheral portions, said overlapping portions being beaded as at 8 in order to hold the same in operative relation with each other. Secured to and projecting from one side of the housing 7 is a pointed screw 9 which isadapted, when the device is in use, to pierce one side or wall of the purse 10,

which it is desired to lock or anchor, the inner end of the screw being engaged by a large nut or disk 11, whereby the lock housmg s securely fastened to the purse.

Shdably mounted within the housing 7 are two jaws 12, the inner ends of which are of channel form, and engaged with each so that each jaw constitutes a guide for the other in the shifting movement thereof. The inner end of each jaw is provided with a circular opening 13 adapted, when said aws are pressed inwardly. into inoperative or releasing position, to register with each other. Said jaws are normally held in operatlve position or at their outer terminals of movement by means of a resilient ring 14 which is secured at opposite sides to the central portions of said jaws. In order to fasten the spring to said jaws the outer end portions of the latter are bent back and formed with tongues 15 which are passed through appropriately positioned slots in the jaws and clenched as clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

The outer reduced ends of jaws 12 pass through openings 16, provided in opposite sides of the housing 7, the outer terminals of said jaws being provided with heads 17 which may bereadily engaged by the fingers in order to effect manual depression or in ward shifting of the jaws.

Cooperating with said jaws is a headed stud 18 which is adapted for insertion into the housing 7 through a centrally positioned opening 18 provided in the outer wall thereof, the inner end of said stud, after passing through the opening 18, being adapted to engage with the openings 18 provided in said jaws, in which event said jaws will clampingly engage therewith to lock the studthereto as clearly seen in the several views. Said stud 18 is provided with a rearwardly projecting pointed screw 19 which is adapted to pass through the wall 20 of the garment, hand bag or other device to which the purse is to be anchored, a nut 21 being adapted to engage with said screw to lock the same in position as clearly, seen in Figs. 4 and 5.

With the construction set forth, it willbe seen that when the stud 18 isengaged with the jaws 12, as above set forth, the purse will be securely locked in place, release thereof being effected only by depression of the exteriorly projecting ends of said jaws, which depression will bring the openings 13 of said jaws into registration with each other. permitting of release of the stud 18 and hence of the purse.

In order to even more securely lock the purse, I have also provided means whereby ment with the adjacent side of the lock housing, it is of course apparent that the corresponding jaw 12 will be locked against movement to releasing position and thus the purse positivelylocked against detachment until the nut 23 has been retracted allowing the necessary movement of the correspondin jaw to releasing position.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred forms of construction for carrying my invention into effect, these are capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim, as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A purse lock comprising, an anchoring element having a stud projecting therefrom; a housing into which said stud is adapted to be inserted; shiftably mounted jaws arranged in said housing and adapted to engage with said stud when inserted into said housing; a resilient ring engaging at opposite sides with said jaws for normally holding the same in engaging position; and means of securing said housing to a purse, substantially as described. 7

'2. A purse lock comprising, an anchoring element having a stud projecting therefrom; a housing into which said stud is.adapted to be inserted; shiftably mounted jaws arranged in said housing and adapted to engage with said stud when inserted into said housing; a resilient ring engaging at opp0- site sides with said jaws for normally holding the same in engaging position; exteriorly projecting portions on said jaws, whereby the latter may be manually shifted to releasing position; and means of securing said housing to a purse, substantially as described.

site sides with said jaws for normally holding the same in engaging position; means for retaining said ring in engagement with said jaws; and means of securing said housing to afpurse, substantially'as described.

4. A purse lock comprising, an anchoring element having a stud proj ecting therefrom; a socket bearing member into which said stud is adapted to be inserted; shiftably mounted jaws arranged in said member and adapted to engage with said stud when inserted into said member; a resilient ring engaging at opposite sides with said jaws for normally holding the same in engaging position; and means for securing said member to a purse, substantially as described.

5. A purse lock comprising an anchoring element having a stud projecting therefrom; a housing into which said stud is adapted to be inserted; shiftably mounted jaws arranged in said housing and adapted to engage with said stud when inserted into said housing; and means for locking one of said jaws against movement to releasing position, substantially as described. V

6. A purse lock comprising an anchoring element having a stud projecting therefrom; a housing into which said stud is adapted to be inserted; shiftably mounted jaws arranged in said housing and adapted to engage with said stud when inserted into said housing; and means adapted to engage against said housing to lock one of said jaws against movement to releasing position, "substantially as described.

7 A purse lock comprising an anchoring element having a stud projecting therefrom; a housing into which said stud is adapted to be inserted; shiftably mounted jaws arranged in said housing and adapted to engage with said stud when inserted into said housing; and a nut threaded on the outer end of one of said jaws, adapted to be adjusted on said jaw to engage against said housing to lock said jaw against movement to releasing position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I'have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIS M. THOMPSON.

Witnesses: r

J. T. LAoKEY, R. 0. (3mm. 

